And yellow is a color you’ll see splashed everywhere, in honor of the island’s mascot – the sempreviva flower. What’s truly original here is how Kythera “borrowed” the traditional Aegean backdrop of huddled whitewashed homes and then added its own finishing touches: bright yellow doorframes, orange-painted ground floor facades and sky-blue doorways. Located in the south, the town fans out in a labyrinth of narrow alleys and archways. Not-to-be-missed is the island’s capital, called Chora, which lies under the watchful eye of a sprawling 16 thC Venetian mountain-top castle. Instead of large resorts, it boasts a plethora of tucked-away villages and towns filled with locals who embrace visitors with their enthusiastic Kytherean hospitality and happily argue over where the best places are for tasting mouth-watering island dishes and house wines. Kythera has few large hotels and this has served to preserve the island’s authentic local flavor and its unique architecture that combines a gorgeous blend of Venetian, Cretan and Aegean flourishes. And this history bequeathed the island a veritable treasure trove of archaeological, cultural and architectural sites that leave tourists and locals enamored with everything Kythera has to offer. Highly coveted, it was occupied by a number of powerful civilizations ranging from the Minoans and Mycenaeans, to the Venetians, British and French. Once you set foot here, it’s easy to understand why Kythera and love become intertwined. Located off the southern coast of the Peloponnese, the island reigns at the crossroads of vital East-West sea routes in the Mediterranean and is blessed with beautiful vistas all the way to Crete and the Aegean on clear days. Hopeless romantics will feel right at home here, as ancient texts suggest that those who embrace their love on this island will unlock a secret, hidden passion. In his Iliad, Homer also mentions Kythera and the island’s strong link to the goddess of love, as the Kytherean goddess feeds love itself. Legend has it that Aphrodite (Venus), the Greek goddess of love herself, was born in the sea-foam off the coast of Kythera before being swept away to Cyprus. All this and more is what Kythera generously offers its visitors – and they inevitably fall in love with this stunning, hidden gem of an island.Īnd love is practically ingrained in the mythological DNA of Kythera island. Caves dot the shoreline, waiting to be explored. White-sand beaches hugged by cliffs invite you in for a dip. Cascading waterfalls that pool in blue-green tropical lagoons beckon you for a swim amid lush vegetation. In many of the museums, admission is done by buying special tickets.Rugged hills and mountains perfect for hiking. Schedule your visits after checking the opening hours of the museums. Every corner of this place hides a secret, a valuable piece of information that may be of interest to you.

The acquaintance with the history of Kythira does not stop here.

In the area you will have the chance to see various objects of folklore interest. One of the most remarkable cultural sites of Kythira that informs the visitor about the stages of olive oil production as it was in the early 20th century. You will see hagiographies, mosaics and ecclesiastical vessels originating from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine temples of Kythira.Īlso make sure you visit the mill in Mitata, known as “the Fava of Liverpool”. In Kato Livadi one can see the collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine artworks hosted in the post-Byzantine temple of Ascension. The Folklore Collection of Kythira in Chora exhibits useful objects of everyday domestic and rural life that show us how people used to live in the old times and how they used them. Coats of arms that, in the Venetian times, adorned the houses of noblemen are presented in an excellent exhibition.

In Chora you can also see the Oikonomi Collection located in the castle. It is now one of the most modern museum in Greece and the exhibition is really impressive. After the catastrophic 2006 earthquake, the museum’s building, which had suffered great damage, was restored, retrofitted, and reopened its doors to the public in 2016. The Archaeological Museum of Kythira is located in Chora. They will describe historical events, admire important finds and discover how people lived in other times. Kythera, with their rich historical history, has small museums and collections that give visitors the opportunity to travel back in time.

Kythera artifact